For years, would-be political reformers have suggested taking this power away from the attorney general. Most recently, Joel Fox urged giving the duty to the non-partisan legislative analyst's office, or to a committee of retired judges.

In Oregon, a new process called the Citizens' Initiative Review puts together juries of regular voters to study initiatives -- and then write arguments for and against initiatives. Those arguments then appear in Oregon's official ballot pamphlet.

The same process could be adapted to California, with the juries producing the official title and summary for each measure.

Turning this process over to voters would do more than simply make the drafting of initiatives fairer and less partisan. It would be an opportunity for broader public engagement and greater deliberation in the initiative process -- a process that is dominated by moneyed, powerful interests.

Such a process also would encourage initiative sponsors to draft clearer, simpler initiatives -- so that the voters drafting the titles could be easily understood. That would be an improvement, since initiatives have grown longer and more complex in recent years.